Baltimore fire officials suspended emergency medical training and locked down an instructional facility Monday after revelations that some student firefighters had cheated on a state licensing exam, officials said.
"This is a serious mistake that tarnishes the reputation of the hundreds of professional and dedicated men and women who work so hard for us," Fire Chief James S. Clack said in a statement.
The state agency that oversees paramedics and emergency medical technicians notified the Fire Department last week that it had determined that students cheated on the practical segment of a test administered June 14.
The 20 students in the class under investigation make up only the second class to begin at the fire academy in more than a year. The department had ceased hiring until last fall because of city budget cuts; the new hires were expected to help relieve staffing pressures in the department, which has closed fire companies on a rolling basis for years to save money.
Future 'heros'?
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